Disaster Number 4451

Disaster Update – 9/30/19
On September 30, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved Missouri’s request to expand the federal major disaster declaration for Missouri to include assistance for local governments and nonprofit agencies in 14 additional counties and the City of St. Louis. The deadline for homeowners and residents to register for assistance was September 9. Over 1,480 households in all 26 counties approved for individual assistance have received more than $7 million. 

Disaster Update – 8/27/19
The Flood Recovery Advisory Working Group held its first meeting on Tuesday, August 27 at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' headquarters. Close to 100 people attended the first meeting of the working group, which was open to the public.

Disaster Update – 8/06/19
On August 5, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved Missouri’s request to expand the federal major disaster declaration to include an additional six counties for Individual Assistance. The Individual Assistance program assists with temporary housing, housing repairs, and the replacement of household items.

Disaster Update – 7/29/19
On July 29, Governor Mike Parson announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) agreed to the state’s request to provide federal assistance to local governments and nonprofits in 68 counties recovering from flooding and severe storms between April 29 and July 5. Through July 29, FEMA approved more than 910 households for Individual Assistance grants and provided more than $4.2 million directly to Missouri flooding and storm survivors to assist with their recovery. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved more than $1.7 million in low-interest loans for Missourians. FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program paid more than $22 million to Missouri policyholders for flood claims filed since March. More than 1,524 claims have been filed.

Disaster Update – 7/18/19
On July 18, Governor Parson signed Executive Order 19-14 establishing Missouri’s Flood Recovery Advisory Working Group. The group was created to provide input on the state’s short-, medium-, and long-term flood recovery priorities. Feedback on the state’s current levee system with suggested changes to benefit Missouri and its citizens is also expected.

Disaster Update – 7/16/19
On July 16, the state of Missouri requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) expand the federal disaster declaration for the state in two ways: consider making FEMA assistance available to residents and businesses in 21 additional counties; and provide assistance to public agencies in 68 counties to help with repairs to roads, bridges, and other damaged infrastructure. SEMA also requested that joint damage assessments for Individual Assistance be conducted for the first time related to this disaster in four counties: Cape Girardeau, Marion, Newton and McDonald counties. In the request, SEMA said that joint FEMA, SEMA, and local damage assessment teams had identified more than $26 million in infrastructure damage and emergency response costs experienced by local jurisdictions. The request estimated damage and expenses totaling more than $23 million due to the flooding and storms.    

Disaster Update – 7/09/19
On July 9, President Trump approved Missouri’s request for a major disaster declaration to assist residents and businesses in 20 counties in the state affected by flooding, tornadoes, and severe storms that began April 29. On June 24, teams began conducting joint damage assessments in 74 Missouri counties in preparation for a request for FEMA Public Assistance, 

Disaster Update – 6/24/19
On June 24, Missouri requested that President Donald Trump issue a major disaster declaration to assist residents and businesses in 41 Missouri counties that were hit hard by flooding, tornadoes, and severe storms beginning on April 29. Governor Parson said joint Preliminary Damage Assessments, conducted by the State Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and local officials, examined 1,650 primary homes, of which 953 had been destroyed or sustained major damage. The assessments also showed that 125 of 251 businesses that were examined had been destroyed or sustained major damage. Also on this day, seven teams began conducting joint damage assessments for Public Assistance, which would allow local governments and qualifying nonprofit agencies to seek federal assistance for reimbursement of emergency response and recovery costs, including repair and replacement costs for damaged roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure. Starting on June 25, three MARCs took place Independence, Brunswick and Boonville. 

Disaster Update – 6/06/19
On June 6, Missouri requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) participate in joint Preliminary Damage Assessments across a total of 58 counties – more than half the 114 counties in the state – in response to tornadoes, severe storms, and worsening flooding. Beginning May 30, Missouri organized Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARCs) in Jefferson City, Eldon, and Carl Junction where local, state, and human service organizations answered questions and provided disaster-related referrals that served a total of more than 600 households affected by severe storms.

Disaster Update – 6/03/19
On June 3, Governor Parson toured the flood damage in Hannibal, Canton, and Clarksville. Twenty-eight levees were reported as breached across the state. In Hannibal, the Mississippi River crested at 30.15 feet on June 1, as the second highest record in history. In Canton, the Mississippi River crested at 27.11 feet on June 1, as the third highest record in history. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, approximately 382 roads closed in 56 counties due to flooding. The Missouri National Guard assisted Brunswick, Canton, Clarksville, Hannibal, Hardin, and Norborne with flood fighting.

Disaster Update – 5/27/19
On May 27, Governor Parson activated the Missouri National Guard to assist with the state’s flooding response. Under Executive Order 19-09, Guard units were deployed to support Chariton County, by sandbagging to reinforce a stressed levee near Brunswick. The Guard also began staging and utilizing high-water vehicles to support flood response operations in Jefferson City.

Disaster Update – 5/23/19 
On the evening of May 22, coincidently the 8-year anniversary of the catastrophic EF5 tornado in Joplin, widespread tornadoes and dangerous severe storms struck the state. Law enforcement confirmed three deaths in Golden City, in Barton County. In addition, among the areas hardest hit were Jefferson City, Carl Junction, and Eldon. Governor Parson met with local officials and emergency personnel early Thursday morning to express his appreciation of the state’s first responders and urged Missourians to stay away from damaged areas. Later that day, Governor Parson took an aerial tour of the overnight damage in Jefferson City and toured damage areas in Eldon and Carl Junction. Jefferson City state employees not immediately necessary for the emergency response were informed to stay home and not report to work until the following Tuesday.

Disaster
The winter of 2018-2019 brought substantial snowfall to part of the northern plains, upwards of two to five times above normal, and set conditions for continuous river flooding along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers in March and April. While the river receded slightly in mid-April, the combination of melting snowpack from the northern plains and rainfall 200-300% above normal set the stage for additional major river flooding into May. The very high crests and prolonged period of flooding caused significant strain on area levees. On May 17-18, first responders performed water rescues due to flash flooding in Jasper and Newton counties. A severe storm that evening also flipped campers in Wheatland, in Hickory County, sending four people to the hospital. On May 21, Governor Parson declared a state of emergency in Missouri in response to continuing severe weather and forecasts for tornadoes, strong straight-line winds, hail, heavy rainfall, and worsening flooding due to prolonged soil inundation throughout the state.